The new Built Environment Standards are available for public review and discussion.

There is one important caveat: The standards will not be enforced for current buildings. Some businesses are applauding but other business owners and many of those in the disability community who want to see better access are scratching their heads. What happened to the government’s commitment to a fully accessible Ontario by 2025?

Requirements for single family residential housing and for retrofitting existing buildings have been included for public discussion. But the government will not impose these requirements in the final built environment standard at this time.

The government does not plan to require that all existing buildings be retrofitted to meet accessibility requirements in the final accessible built environment standard at this time. Terms of reference outline that this standard will be focused on preventing barriers on a go-forward basis. Also, the government does not intend to require Ontarians to make their existing or new houses accessible in the final accessible built environment standard at this time.

Go-forward accessibility? Not very forward thinking at all in my opinion. A costing study was done to estimate the costs to businesses to retrofit buildings. The costs were seen to be too high.

The recession has been used again as a political scapegoat. Businesses that plan over the long term could afford to implement the standards. Government funded organizations and institutions could be given a longer amount of time to implement the standards.

The standards committee I’m sure spent a lot of time discussing this issue. It must have been a difficult decision. But in my opinion the decision is short-sighted and will, in the end, cost us ALL more.

To have your say on the proposed standards and the implementation mentioned above:

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
Outreach and Compliance Branch
Ministry of Community and Social Services
777 Bay Street, Suite 601
Toronto ON Canada
M7A 2J4

E-mail: publicreview@ontario.ca

1-888-482-4317
TTY: 416-326-0148 or 1-888-335-6611 (toll-free in Ontario)
Fax: 416-326-9725

You have until October 16, 2009.

Read the standard here

Full press release from the government follows:

Public review of the Initial Proposed Accessible

Built Environment Standard

On July 14, 2009, the Ontario government released the initial proposed Accessible Built Environment Standard for a public review period. A standards development committee developed the proposed standard. The committee was made up of representatives from the disability and business communities.

The initial proposed standard sets out specific requirements for making the built environment in Ontario accessible, including all new construction and extensive renovations.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is built on a vision of improving accessibility in Ontario — looking forward, not looking back.

We asked the standards development committee to take a broad look at how to make Ontario’s buildings, structures and other spaces accessible. The requirements the committee is proposing are not law.

Requirements for single family residential housing and for retrofitting existing buildings have been included for public discussion. But the government will not impose these requirements in the final built environment standard at this time.

The government does not plan to require that all existing buildings be retrofitted to meet accessibility requirements in the final accessible built environment standard at this time. Terms of reference outline that this standard will be focused on preventing barriers on a go-forward basis. Also, the government does not intend to require Ontarians to make their existing or new houses accessible in the final accessible built environment standard at this time.

Have your say. Everyone in Ontario can:

• review the proposed standard, and
• submit comments.

The committee will use the feedback received during the review period to shape the final proposed standard before submitting it to the government to consider for adoption as a law.

Consultations are also being conducted across the province.

If you are interested in commenting on the proposed standard, please do so by October 16, 2009. If you require an alternate format or method to provide your feedback, please contact:

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
Outreach and Compliance Branch
Ministry of Community and Social Services
777 Bay Street, Suite 601
Toronto ON Canada
M7A 2J4

E-mail: publicreview@ontario.ca

1-888-482-4317
TTY: 416-326-0148 or 1-888-335-6611 (toll-free in Ontario)
Fax: 416-326-9725